GBARK

11/01/2024

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10/30/2024

**🐾 A Thought on Returned Dogs and Compassion 🐾**

At GBARK, we know how much heart and soul goes into adopting a dog, and when a dog comes back to us, it’s natural to have questions. But let's take a moment to remember what truly matters: that the adopter is being responsible by returning the dog to the group that knows and loves them. 💙

It’s a difficult choice for anyone, and while it may be easy to judge, we believe it’s far more important to express gratitude. Thank the person who returned the dog for choosing a safe, caring path instead of abandoning, rehoming unsafely, or leaving the dog at a random shelter. This decision takes courage, and it's the kind of responsibility we wish more people practiced.

So let’s all take a breath (and maybe scream into a pillow later, if we need to!). Our priority is the safety, happiness, and future of each dog, and returns are simply part of the journey. Together, we can keep supporting the best possible outcomes for these incredible animals. 🐕💚

Thank you for being a part of our mission!

10/30/2024

**🐾 Uʀɢᴇɴᴛ Hᴇʟᴘ Nᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ GBARK Sᴀɴᴄᴛᴜᴀʀʏ 🐾**

Fᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʏᴇᴀʀs, GBARK ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ʙʟᴇssᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 70% ᴏғ ᴏᴜʀ ғᴏᴏᴅ sᴜᴘᴘʟʏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴀ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏᴜs ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ Cʜᴇᴡʏ ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛᴇs ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ʟᴀʀɢᴇ ᴅɪsᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛᴏʀ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴛʜᴇɴ sᴜᴘᴘʟɪᴇs sᴍᴀʟʟᴇʀ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴏᴜʀs. Eᴠᴇʀʏ sᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴇᴇᴋs, ᴡᴇ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴊᴜsᴛ $300 ғᴏʀ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴜsᴛᴀɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇsᴄᴜᴇs.

Uɴғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇʟʏ, ᴡᴇ’ᴠᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɴᴏᴛɪғɪᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ʀᴏᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ's ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴀʟʟᴏᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴇʟʏ ʟɪᴍɪᴛᴇᴅ, ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴜs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ sɪɢɴɪғɪᴄᴀɴᴛ sʜᴏʀᴛғᴀʟʟ. Pᴜʀᴄʜᴀsɪɴɢ ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs ɪs ᴀ ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇɴsᴇ—ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏxɪᴍᴀᴛᴇʟʏ $150 ᴘᴇʀ ᴅᴀʏ—ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴏᴛᴀʟ ɴᴇᴀʀʟʏ **$8,000 ᴏᴠᴇʀ sᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴇᴇᴋs**.

Tʜɪs ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ғɪɴᴀɴᴄɪᴀʟ ʙᴜʀᴅᴇɴ ᴘᴜᴛs ᴀ sᴛʀᴀɪɴ ᴏɴ ᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sɪɢʜᴛʜᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ. Wᴇ’ʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ, ғᴏʀ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴏɢs ғᴇᴅ, sᴀғᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ.

**Eᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴏʟʟᴀʀ ʜᴇʟᴘs** ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀɪɴɢs ᴜs ᴄʟᴏsᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴜʀ ɢᴏᴀʟ ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ғᴏᴏᴅ ɢᴀᴘ. Yᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴅᴏɴᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ: Pᴀʏᴘᴀʟ.ᴍᴇ/ᴊsᴀʟᴅɪᴠᴀʀᴋɪᴛᴛᴏ CᴀsʜAᴘ: $GBARK1 Vᴇɴᴍᴏ: @ɢ-ʙ-ᴀ-ʀ-ᴋ Mᴀɪʟ: GBARK 3715 E. Sʏʟᴠᴀɴɪᴀ Rᴅ. Bʟᴏᴏᴍғɪᴇʟᴅ, IN 47401 GBARK ɪs ᴀɴ IRS ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴠᴇᴅ 501(3)C

Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ʙʏ GBARK ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴠᴇs ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ. 🐶💙

10/29/2024

**Navigating the Journey of Adoption: Embracing the Complexities of Dog and Human Bonds**

At GBARK, we know that taking in dogs who have been adopted only to be returned is never easy—for the adopter, for the dog, or for us. Many of the dogs we care for have been through a lot and, in some cases, have even bitten someone, often due to an unknown trigger that may never be fully understood. In some places, if we don’t take them in, these dogs may face euthanasia. That’s why we do what we do.

I want to speak today to the heartache and the weight of feelings that often accompany the decision to surrender a dog. Many adopters wrestle with feelings of guilt, shame, or even a bit of self-doubt. It’s completely understandable. After all, when we bring a dog into our lives, we hope for companionship, loyalty, and love. When it doesn’t work out, it can feel deeply personal, as if we’ve somehow failed. But let me tell you: it’s rarely anyone’s “fault.” Dogs, like people, are complex beings. They have heightened senses, triggers we might not perceive, and unique personalities. A scent, a sound, or even a certain movement could set them off, and we may never fully understand why.

I can tell you this because I’ve been there myself. When we first started GBARK, I noticed some dogs would gravitate towards Alonso and others towards me, and at times, I found myself feeling hurt when a dog wasn’t affectionate or friendly towards me. It made me question if I was doing something wrong or if I just wasn’t “right” for that dog. But over time, I came to see this for what it was: a normal part of bonding, for dogs and humans alike. Just as we sometimes meet people with whom we don’t “click” right away, dogs have preferences, too—and that’s okay.

For those of you who have gone through the difficult decision to rehome a dog, please know that your feelings are valid. It’s natural to feel hurt, disappointed, or even a bit embarrassed. There is no shame in admitting that a situation didn’t turn out the way you’d hoped. It takes courage to recognize that, sometimes, love means making a hard choice for the sake of both yourself and the dog. You’re not alone in this; we’re here to help, and there’s a community of people who understand just what you’re feeling. Let’s continue to support each other with compassion, knowing that these bonds—no matter how they turn out—are a testament to the love and dedication we have for our four-legged friends.

10/17/2024

It was 31° this morning when we went out to our park. It's funny that most greys are known to get cold and need coats, but that's not always the case. On mornings like this it gets some of them really going! Randy, Lad, Woody, Rye, Hank, Leo, Sydney, Moose, C**t, Honey, Gracie, Wiley, Jimmy. Megan, Lena and Buttons really get hyped up and run around like nuts! On the extreme are Reesey, Reggie, Ziggy, Ricky, Shamu, Meyer, Jackie and Paca, who stay out only as long as necessary! Bobo doesn't seem to care either way he is always hyped!

10/15/2024

"We are so grateful to our incredible GBARK supporters! You jumped in so quickly to pull us through our financial struggles this past summer that we’ve been able to focus on the dogs without making any more donation pleas... until now! As we enter the 4th quarter, we need to raise our usual minimum of $12,500. Alonso and I personally cover about 50% of the costs ourselves, meaning that this sanctuary is *our dream home, *our new car, *our vacations. It’s all for the dogs.
Now, we are asking once again for your help to keep things running smoothly. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you all so much for your continued support and generosity!
To donate, go to tinyurl.com/donate2gbark or Paypal.me/jsaldivarkitto
CashApp: $GBARK1
Venmo: -B-A-R-K
Mail: 3715 E. Sylvania Rd. Bloomfield, IN 47424
Thank you, everyone, for your support!

10/15/2024

**Understanding the Truth Behind Pet Food Labels: Insights from Mister Buck's Genuinely Good Pet Food**

During my time owning Mister Buck's Genuinely Good Pet Food, I learned a great deal about the realities of pet food production and how much marketing influences consumer perceptions. Much of what we believe about pet food quality is based on clever messaging, not necessarily on nutritional facts.

# # # Contract Manufacturing vs. In-House Production

One key lesson was the difference between “Manufactured by” and “Manufactured for,” which I covered in a previous post. In short, “Manufactured by” means that the company selling the pet food owns the factory that produces it. “Manufactured for,” on the other hand, indicates that the company contracted an external manufacturer to make the product based on their specifications. Mister Buck's followed the latter model, like many in the industry.

This distinction is important, but it doesn't mean that one method guarantees better food. Regardless of the manufacturer, companies like mine specify exactly what goes into the food—both in terms of ingredients and formulation.

# # # Ingredient Suppliers: The Hidden Similarities Across Brands

Here's where it gets really eye-opening: while there are thousands of pet food brands, there are only two major ingredient suppliers in the industry. What does this mean? It means that, despite the variety of products on the shelves, most companies are sourcing their ingredients from the same places. The difference between brands comes down to their formulas and how they market those formulas.

Don’t get me wrong—there are meaningful differences between formulas. Different combinations of ingredients and their proportions can impact digestibility, nutrition, and even taste. However, when it comes to the quality of the actual ingredients, most major pet food brands are working with similar suppliers. The choice of which supplier to use was one we could make at Mister Buck's, but the pool of options was small.

# # # Fresh Meat vs. Meat Meals: The Surprising Reality

One of the most common marketing ploys in pet food is the emphasis on “fresh” meat, like chicken breasts. Advertisers highlight the use of whole, fresh proteins, leading consumers to believe that these foods are superior. However, this is where understanding the label becomes critical.

Fresh meat, like chicken, contains up to 75% water. That means when you see “whole chicken breast” listed as the first ingredient, it’s based on the weight of the meat before the water has been removed. Once dehydrated, the weight—and therefore its prominence on the ingredient list—drops significantly. In fact, once the water is removed, it might not even be the top ingredient anymore.

On the other hand, ingredients like "chicken meal" are much more concentrated sources of protein. Chicken meal has already been dehydrated, meaning that it contains far more protein by weight than fresh meat. While it might seem counterintuitive, "meal" ingredients often provide more protein per gram than their fresh counterparts. So, despite the glamorous marketing of fresh meat, meat meals can actually be the more nutritious option for your pet.

# # # The Truth About Corn

Corn is another ingredient that has been villainized by pet food marketing. The truth, however, is more nuanced. Corn gluten meal, for example, is an excellent source of digestible protein. Studies show that corn gluten meal has a digestibility rate of 92%, compared to meat proteins which hover around 90%. In other words, corn is not the low-quality filler it’s often made out to be.

Now, it’s true that some pets can develop allergies to corn, but that’s a separate issue, unrelated to the nutritional value of the ingredient itself. For most pets, corn and corn gluten meal provide a highly digestible and beneficial source of protein.

# # # Marketing vs. Nutrition: The Takeaway

Ultimately, what I learned in the pet food industry is that marketing plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions of what’s best for our pets. Labels that boast “fresh whole chicken” may appeal to our sensibilities, but they don’t always tell the full story when it comes to nutrition. Likewise, ingredients like corn, often cast as villains, are misunderstood and can actually offer valuable nutritional benefits.

As consumers, it’s easy to be swayed by the messaging we see on pet food packaging. But understanding how to read labels—looking at not just what’s listed, but also the true nutritional value of those ingredients—will help us make better decisions for our pets. So the next time you're in the pet food aisle, remember that the quality of your pet's food isn't just about what's marketed to you—it's about what's actually inside the bag.

10/14/2024

Enjoying the sights, sounds, smells and feel of a Fall day.

10/14/2024

The all Greyhound Chorus tuning up to sing.

10/13/2024

We worked on our feeding building all day today. Most of the dogs hung out with us. It is incredibly soothing to look around and see these beings who simply want to be with us.🥰

10/10/2024

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." ~ Groucho Marx

10/10/2024

This morning was one of those I wish I could freeze in time and spend forever in it. I took the dogs out to our fenced woods. It was cool, but not cold. Just perfect. 26 of our 34 went out. As we walked around, some played and raced ahead, others took their time and sniffed and explored, while others walked with me, either by my side or following. It was so peaceful. We have deer who jump the fence at night to get to the pond, turtles and fish, raccoons, birds, including eagles, hawks and ducks. There are plenty of smells!

10/09/2024

The hardest part of my job, watching the dogs outside. 🤣Sure am glad we got 15 acres so they had plenty of room to run!

10/09/2024

this dog has been stuck in a shelter for a long, long time. He is in the Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin area. Anyone with any questions or who has an interest please contact Nelly at phone or text (262) 455-5913 or email [email protected]

10/08/2024

Unconditional love.

10/07/2024

The dogs inspected some ongoing projects. 1. Buttons, 2. Megan, 3. Rickey, 4. Reesy, 5. Randy, 6. Gizmo, 7. Gracie, 8. Woody, 10. I don't know!, 11. Hank, 12. Sydney, 13. Honey, 14. Shamu, 15. Lena, 16. Jimmy, 17. Wiley.

10/07/2024

I had a moment this morning but didn't have my phone to snap a picture! 3 of our most recent arrivals, Woody, Ricky and Lad, were standing together as the sun just began to rise. They were shoulder to shoulder looking straight at me.

10/06/2024

Our friends at Greyt Angles have asked us to share this!
"We have a lurcher, Gary. He's just kind of a strange guy - very good with people, but can be unpredictable with other dogs. There doesn't appear to be a pattern to who he likes or doesn't. (I'm sure he knows the reasons, we just haven't figured it out!) He does not do well going to public outings and does not meet other dogs well. We are looking for an only-dog foster or adoptive home for him, but you know how difficult that is. If you know of anyone looking for an only-dog, please let me know. Thanks!"

Meet Gary, a gentle lurcher looking for a peaceful home. Born 2021, ideal for quiet environments. Foster or adopt this sweet boy today! Contact Greyt Angels.

10/05/2024

GBARK could use some extra flea prevention. If anyone or group has some spare, please let us know!

10/05/2024

Quote from a Greyhound owner I know and haven't seen in a while: Her: "I had five (greys), three died."
Me: "How is your husband?"
Her: "Oh he died too."

10/04/2024

10/03/2024

I stapled my thumb to a board. It hit a bone, but just bruised it badly, no fractures, but the pain medicine knocked me silly. I could not stand up!

09/30/2024

There is a sawmill nearby that cuts hardwood for fine furniture makers, so they are really picky about imperfections. I bought 3000 board feet of rough sawn red oak for $350. That is unbelievable and will allow us to get so much out of it. I made new fencing, am using some to finish the inside of our barn, other for some roofing. It can be used inside or out (with some stain). And sanded and stained its beautiful! Ahh the things that get me excited these days!